Australia fast bowler Mitchell Starc has been granted permission to travel to India to rejoin the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) after recovering from shoulder and elbow injuries. He is expected to link up with Delhi Capitals ahead of their fixture against Rajasthan Royals in Jaipur on 1 May.
The 36-year-old left-arm pacer has not played any form of competitive cricket since the latter part of January. Prior to his injury lay-off, he delivered a standout performance in the Ashes series, where he took 31 wickets across five Test matches. He bowled a total of 153.1 overs in the series and was named Player of the Series for his contributions.
Following the Ashes, Starc featured in five matches for Sydney Sixers in the Big Bash League. His performances helped the side reach the final. However, during a match against Perth Scorchers, he sustained an injury while attempting to take a catch, landing heavily and placing significant strain on his left shoulder and elbow.
After a period of rest in February, Starc resumed bowling. However, he experienced discomfort during this phase of rehabilitation. As a result, he was not available for selection at the start of the current IPL season.
Initial uncertainty surrounded his absence from the early stages of the tournament, prompting confusion regarding his availability. Starc later addressed the situation on social media, providing clarification about the nature of his injury and expressing concern over misinformation and speculation surrounding his condition.
It has since been reported that he has bowled without pain during the past week in Sydney. On that basis, he has been cleared to travel, with his arrival in India scheduled for Friday. If his recovery continues as expected, he is in line to be available for the match on 1 May and potentially for the remainder of the IPL season.
Timeline of Events
| Period | Event |
|---|---|
| January (late) | Played five Big Bash League matches for Sydney Sixers; helped reach final |
| January (late) | Took 31 wickets in Ashes series; named Player of the Series |
| January (late) | Sustained shoulder and elbow injury while fielding against Perth Scorchers |
| February | Rest period followed by return to bowling practice |
| February (post-rest) | Experienced discomfort during bowling, leading to IPL absence |
| Early IPL season | Did not travel to India for tournament start |
| Recent week (Sydney) | Bowled without pain during training sessions |
| Current week | Granted permission to travel to India; arrival scheduled Friday |
| 1 May | Expected availability for Delhi Capitals v Rajasthan Royals in Jaipur |
Starc’s anticipated return is set to make him available for Delhi Capitals following his recovery process, with his participation dependent on maintaining fitness after arrival.